The ex child welfare advocate has informed the Covid-19 inquiry that the government must say sorry to youngsters for the harmful mistakes and policy errors it committed throughout the pandemic.
'Doom Loop' Among Ministers Led to Failure to Help Children
Presenting evidence to the investigation's open session, Anne Longfield said that a cycle of fatalism within government leaders meant the government failed to do more to help children.
Longfield claimed that the prolonged restrictions and school closures were to blame for the surge in mental health, welfare and conduct difficulties still being experienced children and young people.
These young individuals who lived through the coronavirus crisis – many of them will now be adults and some of whom are just beginning school – are due a official sorry from the government leader in the legislature once the investigation has published its final report,” Longfield stated.
Formal Apology Would Acknowledge Avoidable Mistakes and Harm Caused
“An apology would provide the authorities an opportunity to formally acknowledge the avoidable mistakes and the damage that was caused to many young people's wellbeing, schooling, health, growth, and security, after decisions that were taken by the administration at the time in the pandemic years.
“It would be a chance to say sorry, and to promise that lessons really will be taken on board, should there be a future health crisis or national emergency in the years ahead.”
Children’s Interests Were Secondary to Pubs, Stores and Adults
Longfield said her recommendations or opinions were infrequently sought by the government throughout the health crisis, and told the inquiry that the needs of children often “were placed after in the line to pubs, retail outlets, theme parks but also adults, the whole time”.
Social Care Provision Dropped Throughout Crisis
Longfield was especially disapproving of the government’s choice to drop many aspects of social care provision during the health crisis, including weakening standards for visits to vulnerable youngsters.
The restrictions on visits and the increasing reliance of virtual meetings allowed certain households to avoid or conceal their home situations, Longfield suggested.
“Families, if they chose to, could easily see how they could hold the meeting in a tidy, very clean area, and the other parts of the home might not be the same,” Longfield said.
The lower requirements meant social workers were not able to talk to at-risk children without their parents there, or to speak with additional family members who might have concerns.
Lack of Creative Solutions in Education and Social Work
The former commissioner expressed she was frustrated that the government failed to use any creative problem-solving regarding educational institutions and child protection that other parts of government, such as the NHS, had employed to solve problems.
“There wasn’t the kind of emergency response that medical facilities received, in schools. Numerous measures could have been done differently around maintaining education access but they weren’t.
“Similarly with child welfare, [the government] moved straight to an result involving reducing responsibilities,” she added.
After-Effects Still Being Felt Young People
She stated the consequences on children and young people were still being felt, citing the twofold increase in long-term non-attendance from education, the 80% increase in education, health and care plans provided for children with special needs, and a tripling in autism spectrum diagnoses in children since prior to the health crisis.
She commented the evidence “is completely conclusive on the rise in virtually every indicator of [increased] vulnerability, from pre-Covid to today”.
